GEAR UP Hawaii and UH establish $4 million scholarship fund for low-income GEAR UP scholars in Hawaii

The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) and GEAR UP Hawaiʻi are pleased to mark the establishment of a $4 million GEAR UP Scholarship fund through the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) that will provide scholarships for 7,500 GEAR UP Scholars in the Classes of 2006 to 2009.

This year, more than 350 GEAR UP Scholars in the graduating high school Class of 2006 have applied for the scholarship through HCF. Students entered the GEAR UP Scholars Program at the end of their 8th grade year by signing a form with their parent pledging to prepare for postsecondary education and meeting minimum academic and behavioral requirements. Throughout their high school years, Scholars received college preparation support and resources from GEAR UP Hawaiʻi and through student college prep clubs known as GEAR UP Hui.

To qualify for the need- and merit-based scholarship, GEAR UP Scholars must have prepared academically, earn a Board of Education Recognition Diploma this Spring and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Scholarship recipients will be announced in July.

GEAR UP Scholars have access to over $16 billion of financial aid by applying for federal financial aid, the GEAR UP Scholarship and the newly established State of Hawaiʻi B Plus Scholarship.

GEAR UP, which stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, encourages low-income students to prepare for higher education. GEAR UP Hawaii is a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the State of Hawaiʻi and a collaborative project of the State DOE, University of Hawiʻi 10-campus system and community partners. For moreinformation about GEAR UP Hawaiʻi, visit http://gearup.hawaii.edu or call 956-3879 or toll free at 1-866-808-GEAR(4327).